ASAP Pathway: THE PODCAST

What if forward head posture, chronic neck pain, morning headaches—or even the way someone sleeps—isn't simply a musculoskeletal problem? What if the body is compensating because it's trying to breathe?In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with chiropractor Dr. Kameron Smith to explore the connection between airway health, sleep, posture, pain and chiropractic care.Kameron's interest in airway began while performing Department of Transportation physicals and recognizing how many drivers were at risk for sleep apnea. Then it became personal. Despite being young, fit and not fitting the stereotypical sleep apnea patient, Kameron was experiencing fatigue, morning headaches and concerning nighttime oxygen readings.His own diagnosis changed the way he began looking at his patients—and eventually his own daughter.Together, Dr. Stacy and Kameron discuss how forward head posture, neck tension, mouth breathing and unusual sleep positions may sometimes be clues that the body is compensating to breathe.They also explore pediatric airway screening, craniofacial growth and development, and why simply correcting posture may miss the bigger question:Why is the body compensating in the first place? Most importantly, this conversation is a call for greater collaboration between dentists, chiropractors and other airway-focused providers.Because sometimes the posture isn't the problem. It's the clue.Dr. Kameron Smith WebsiteDr Kameron Smith LinkedInCHAPTERS: 📖00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway00:57 Meet Dr. Kameron Smith02:23 Kameron’s Journey Into Chiropractic03:54 The Patients Who Changed His Perspective04:17 DOT Physicals & Recognizing Sleep Apnea05:53 Kameron’s Own Sleep Apnea Story07:20 Getting Diagnosed & Starting CPAP07:45 Headaches, Neck Pain & Sleep08:31 Could Forward Head Posture Be an Airway Compensation?09:03 Recognizing the Same Signs in His Daughter12:00 Looking Beyond Symptoms in Children16:00 What Chiropractors Are—and Aren’t—Taught About Airway21:01 What Should Chiropractors Look For?24:00 Recognizing Airway Patterns in Adults & Children26:02 Function, Compensation & the Body28:00 What Sleep Position May Be Telling Us32:41 The Body Will Do What It Has to Do to Breathe34:16 What Does Future Collaboration Look Like?35:35 Why Kameron Wants Airway Screening in Preschools36:14 Building a Network of Airway-Aware Chiropractors37:19 What Could Pediatric Airway Screening Include?38:42 Early Intervention, Growth & Development40:27 A Call for Dentists & Chiropractors to Collaborate41:01 Three Random Questions With Kameron45:43 How to Connect With Dr. Kameron Smith47:01 Closing ThoughtsKEY LEARNINGS: 💡1. Posture may be compensation. Forward head posture and neck tension may sometimes be clues that the body is trying to maintain airflow.2. Look beyond the stereotype. Kameron was young and fit but still experienced sleep apnea, fatigue and morning headaches.3. Ask about sleep. Headaches, fatigue, neck pain and poor sleep may warrant further airway screening or referral.4. Personal experience changes perspective. Kameron’s own sleep apnea diagnosis changed how he began evaluating his patients.5. Children compensate too. Mouth breathing, forward head posture and unusual sleep positions deserve a closer look.6. Don’t just correct posture—ask why. A compensation may be serving a purpose, so understanding the driver matters.7. Sleep position can be a clue. The way someone positions their head or body during sleep may sometimes relate to breathing.8. Earlier screening creates opportunity. Recognizing airway concerns in childhood may allow providers to intervene during growth and development.9. Dentists and chiropractors should collaborate. Each profession sees different pieces of structure, posture, function, breathing and development.10. Build an airway-aware healthcare network. Better communication and referral between providers can help patients receive more comprehensive care.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

What if some of the most powerful tools for healing are already inside your own body?In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with Dr. Matt Bayes, a primary care sports medicine physician, non-surgical orthopedist, and regenerative medicine doctor whose work focuses on orthobiologics—the use of a patient’s own cells to support healing and recovery. Dr. Bayes breaks down PRP (platelet-rich plasma), stem cells, bone marrow aspiration, adipose-derived cells, and ultrasound-guided regenerative procedures in language patients and healthcare providers can understand.He explains how platelets act as important messengers in the body’s healing process, how stem cells participate in tissue repair, and how these therapies may be used for certain ligament, tendon, cartilage, joint, and musculoskeletal injuries. But this conversation is also about knowing when regenerative medicine is—and isn’t—the right answer. Dr. Bayes and Dr. Stacy discuss the importance of diagnosis and case selection, including situations where surgery remains the appropriate treatment. The discussion also bridges medicine and dentistry as Dr. Stacy explores the growing role of regenerative approaches such as PRF in TMJ care and considers how her own experience with regenerative medicine is influencing the direction of her dental practice. And beneath all of it is a wonderfully simple message: Movement is medicine. Curiosity makes us better clinicians. Collaboration improves patient care. And sometimes the best way forward is to work with the healing capacity the body already possesses.Email Dr Matt Bayes: [email protected]. Matt Bayes IGCHAPTERS:📚00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway01:01 Meet Dr. Matt Bayes02:35 From Pediatrics and the Navy to Sports Medicine05:07 Discovering PRP and Orthobiologics08:00 What Are PRP and Stem Cells?11:54 How Stem Cells Support Tissue Healing17:50 Dr. Stacy’s Personal Experience With Regenerative Medicine21:11 How Regenerative Medicine Has Evolved25:41 Who Is a Candidate for Orthobiologics?31:28 Movement Is Medicine35:20 Connecting Regenerative Medicine to TMJ Care43:36 Curiosity, Collaboration & Becoming a Better Clinician53:32 What Can PRP and Stem Cells Actually Treat?57:29 Why Listening to Patients Matters1:01:00 Teaching the Next Generation of Healthcare Providers1:07:17 How to Connect With Dr. Matt Bayes1:10:19 Three Random Questions With Dr. BayesLEARNINGS:🎓PRP uses the body’s own platelets to support the healing process. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. Blood is drawn and processed in a centrifuge to concentrate platelets, which Dr. Bayes describes as important coordinators of the body's healing response. Those platelets release signals involved in recruiting and activating cells that participate in tissue repair. Stem cells and PRP aren't the same thing—but they work within the same healing system. Dr. Bayes explains that stem cells are found throughout the body and participate in repairing and remodeling tissue. In his practice, mesenchymal stem cells are of particular interest because of their relationship to tissues including cartilage, ligament, tendon, muscle and bone.Regenerative medicine may occupy an important space between conservative care and surgery. For appropriately selected patients, orthobiologics may offer another option when traditional conservative treatments aren't enough but major surgery isn't yet necessary or desirable. As Dr. Bayes describes it, there can be an important therapeutic space between “nothing” and surgery.Regenerative medicine cannot—and should not—treat everyone. One of the strongest messages in the episode is the importance of case selection. A major tear, severe deformity, advanced structural problem or other condition may require surgery. Dr. Stacy shares how Dr. Bayes evaluated her son's knees, determined regenerative medicine wasn't appropriate, and referred him for the surgical care he needed.The diagnosis has to come before the treatment. Shoulder pain isn't automatically a rotator cuff problem, just as joint pain doesn't automatically mean someone needs an injection. Dr. Bayes emphasizes combining the history, physical examination and appropriate imaging—including ultrasound, X-ray or MRI—to establish the diagnosis before deciding whether an orthobiologic treatment is indicated.A patient's overall health influences healing. Age alone doesn't determine whether someone will respond well. Dr. Bayes discusses factors such as disease severity, body weight, smoking, alcohol use, metabolic health, sleep, activity and management of underlying medical conditions when considering expectations and potential outcomes.Movement really is medicine. You don't need the perfect workout, gym membership or exercise clothes to benefit from movement. Walk the dog. Take the stairs. Stand while working. Do ten squats. Go outside and play. The message is simple: doing something is better than doing nothing, and maintaining movement is foundational to longevity and quality of life.Curiosity may be one of the most important characteristics of a great clinician. Dr. Bayes argues that what separates excellent clinicians isn't simply IQ—it's curiosity. Great healthcare providers continue asking questions, learning from other disciplines, seeking mentors, attending continuing education and remaining willing to change what they do as evidence and technology evolve.Great healthcare requires collaboration—and knowing your lane. The goal shouldn't be for one provider to do everything. Dr. Bayes describes building a network of surgeons, physicians, therapists, chiropractors, trainers and other professionals so patients can be directed to the person best equipped to help them. Collaboration isn't a weakness; it's part of responsible patient care.Sometimes the most powerful thing a healthcare provider can do is listen. Dr. Stacy and Dr. Bayes discuss how dramatically the patient experience changes when a clinician sits down, makes eye contact, asks questions and genuinely listens. Patients increasingly arrive informed and prepared to advocate for themselves. Better communication can improve not only the patient's experience but the clinician's ability to understand what is actually happening.The overarching message of this episode: Medicine is changing. Dentistry is changing. Regenerative therapies are creating new possibilities—but the real advancement isn't simply a new procedure. It's combining science, curiosity, ethics, movement, listening and collaboration to help people function better and improve their quality of life.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with Dr. Pedro Cuartas, founder of the Collaborative Airway Management Summit (CAMS) and Clinical Director of South Louisiana Dental Sleep Medicine, for a conversation about what may be one of the biggest missing pieces in airway healthcare: collaboration.With so many patients still undiagnosed, how do we actually make a meaningful dent?The answer, he believes, isn't simply more education. Knowledge without implementation doesn't change patient care.Dr. Stacy and Pedro discuss why physicians, dentists, ENTs, nurse practitioners, PAs, sleep specialists and other healthcare providers need practical systems for screening, referral, treatment and—perhaps most importantly—communication.They also explore why sleep apnea treatment doesn't have to be an either/or decision. CPAP, oral appliance therapy, Inspire, weight management, positional therapy, lifestyle changes and other approaches may sometimes work together as combination therapy, creating a treatment plan built around the individual patient rather than forcing the patient into a single treatment box.The conversation expands into women and children who may be missed by traditional sleep apnea metrics, hormonal changes and midlife sleep, pediatric airway intervention, weight and craniofacial risk factors, and the importance of looking backward in a patient's story to understand how they arrived at their current health.Pedro also shares the vision behind CAMS: bringing healthcare providers from different disciplines into the same room, allowing them to learn from one another, understand each other's treatment options and ultimately return home equipped to build collaborative airway “ecosystems” in their own communities.Because the goal isn't simply to diagnose sleep apnea.It's to make sure the patient has somewhere to go next.The goal isn’t for one profession to “own” the airway. The goal is to build an ecosystem around the patient where providers communicate. Because when healthcare truly becomes collaborative, the dead ends no longer have to exist.CAMS FB PageCAMS Summit RegistrationDr Pedro Cuartas LinkedInDr Pedro Cuartas’ PracticeCHAPTERS: 📖00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway00:50 Meet Dr. Pedro Cuartas03:42 How Pedro Found Dental Sleep Medicine05:07 “What Did You Do to My Patient?”07:10 Why Dental School Historically Missed Airway & Sleep09:00 The 80% Undiagnosed Problem10:00 Knowledge Without Implementation Isn't Enough11:00 The Vision Behind the CAMS Summit14:00 Giving Healthcare Providers a “Now What?”17:00 Why Sleep & Airway Care Still Falls Through the Cracks20:00 Building CAMS: Collaboration Over Competition23:17 Expanding Airway Collaboration Into Midlife Health27:12 Hormones, Sleep & Pedro's Unexpected Midlife Story31:00 Why Every Specialty Belongs in the Airway Conversation40:00 Understanding the Pain Points of Medical Providers44:00 Creating Better Referral & Treatment Pathways47:00 Building Local Airway Healthcare Ecosystems49:20 Why Combination Therapy Matters50:30 A Real Patient Example: CPAP + Oral Appliance + Weight Management52:30 Going Back in the “Airway Time Machine”55:00 Patients May Have to Help Connect Their Providers56:00 Why Continuity of Care Matters58:00 Communication Can Build Better Healthcare Relationships1:01:00 Be Your Own Advocate—Without Becoming the Doctor1:04:02 Who Should Attend CAMS?1:05:42 Three Random Questions With Pedro1:08:07 Closing ThoughtsLEARNINGS: 💡Knowledge needs implementation. Education only changes care when providers know how to screen, refer, treat, and follow up.Dentistry belongs in the airway conversation. Dentists are uniquely positioned to recognize signs of sleep-disordered breathing and help connect patients to care.No more dead ends. A diagnosis should lead to a clear next step—not leave patients wondering where to go or what to do.Sleep treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. CPAP, oral appliances, Inspire, weight management, positional therapy, and other options can sometimes be used together.Collaboration improves care. Physicians, dentists, ENTs, sleep specialists, and other providers each bring an important piece of the puzzle.Communication closes the loop. Referrals, treatment updates, efficacy testing, and follow-up should be shared across the patient’s healthcare team.Look beyond the stereotype. Women and children may present differently and can be missed by traditional sleep apnea screening and metrics.Weight isn’t the whole story. Craniofacial anatomy, airway development, sleep quality, and other factors can contribute to OSA risk.Earlier intervention may change the trajectory. Pediatric airway care gives providers an opportunity to recognize risk factors before they become larger adult problems.Patients need an airway healthcare ecosystem. The goal is a connected community of providers where patients always have a pathway forward.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with dental sleep medicine expert Crystal May, Vice President of Dental Sleep Medicine at Happy Sleep, for a wide-ranging conversation about why sleep screening needs to become a routine part of healthcare—and why dentistry may be one of the best places to start.Crystal shares her 20-year journey through dentistry, medical billing, practice ownership, sleep medicine, technology, and implementation. She also shares something much more personal: despite being a young, fit woman who didn’t fit the stereotypical picture of a sleep apnea patient, Crystal was eventually diagnosed with a sleep-related breathing disorder after years of nearly daily headaches. For dental professionals, the message is refreshingly simple: you do not need to build an entire dental sleep medicine program to make a difference. Start by screening. Adding just a few questions to the medical history may identify patients who have been suffering silently for years. They also explore sleep quantity versus sleep quality, hormones and metabolism, simple sleep-hygiene strategies, night-to-night variability in testing, oral appliance therapy, and Crystal’s current work to bridge the longstanding divide between medicine and dentistry.Because better sleep isn't simply about getting through the night. It is about giving the body and brain the opportunity to heal, regulate, recover—and thrive.Crystal May LinkedInHappy Health LinkedInEmail Crystal May:  [email protected]: 📚00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway with Crystal May02:44 Crystal’s 20-Year Journey Into Dental Sleep Medicine05:33 The Sleep Course That Changed Everything06:24 Why Sleep Medicine Is So Difficult to Implement09:44 The Real Problem: Implementation10:36 Why Every Dentist Should Be Screening for Sleep14:16 Sleep Screening Doesn't Have to Be Complicated18:32 Three Questions Dentists Can Start Asking Monday20:58 Crystal’s Daily Headaches—and Her Sleep Apnea Diagnosis23:42 Why “Mild” Sleep Apnea Doesn't Mean Mild Symptoms29:25 How Oral Appliance Therapy Changed Crystal’s Life33:21 Sleep Isn't Wasted Time: Why Quality Sleep Matters37:22 Beyond AHI: RDI, RERAs and Sleep Disorders in Women45:04 Why an Old Negative Sleep Test May Not Tell Today's Story47:53 Sleep Hygiene: Simple Ways to Improve Your Sleep56:25 Bridging Medicine and Dentistry with Happy Sleep59:48 The Problem With One-Night Sleep Testing1:04:06 How Physicians, Dentists and Patients Can Get Involved1:08:04 The Final Call to Action: Just Start Screening1:10:23 Dawn or Dusk? Three Fun Questions with CrystalLearnings: 🎓Sleep screening should become a routine part of dentistry. Dentists and hygienists are uniquely positioned to identify potential sleep problems because they see patients regularly, examine the craniofacial and oral structures, and already collect detailed health histories. Screening does not require building an entire dental sleep medicine practice.Start with three simple questions: tiredness, snoring and headaches. Crystal recommends daytime tiredness, snoring and headaches as easy conversation starters. These common symptoms can help dental teams identify patients who may benefit from further sleep evaluation.Stop normalizing exhaustion. Many people assume being tired, relying on caffeine, waking unrefreshed or living with frequent headaches is simply part of being busy. Crystal's own experience demonstrates how symptoms can become someone's “normal” even when an underlying sleep disorder is contributing to them.Sleep apnea doesn't have a “look.” Crystal did not fit the stereotype of the older, overweight male with sleep apnea. The conversation emphasizes that women, younger people, fit individuals and even children can experience sleep-related breathing disorders—which is why screening should not be based on appearance alone.“Mild” sleep apnea doesn't necessarily mean mild symptoms. A diagnostic category doesn't always reflect how significantly disrupted breathing is affecting someone's quality of life. Patients with so-called mild disease may still experience substantial fatigue, headaches, fragmented sleep and other symptoms.AHI may not tell the whole story—especially in women. Crystal explains that her AHI alone would have fallen within normal limits, while her RDI was in the 16s. Looking at RERAs and breathing disturbances that fragment sleep helped identify what AHI alone would have missed. After treatment, her RDI dropped to approximately two and her symptoms dramatically improved.Sleep quantity is not the same as sleep quality. Sleeping eight or even ten hours does not guarantee restorative sleep. If breathing disruptions repeatedly fragment normal sleep architecture, the body may not get the recovery it needs regardless of how much time is spent in bed.Treating sleep can create a positive ripple effect throughout health. Better sleep gave Crystal more energy to exercise, make healthier choices and reduce her dependence on caffeine. The episode also explores sleep's relationship with hormone regulation, appetite, metabolism and overall ability to function during waking hours.Simple habits can support better sleep—but symptomatic patients still need evaluation. Consistent sleep and wake times, a dark sleeping environment, morning sunlight and reducing nighttime screen stimulation are practical strategies discussed in the episode. But good “sleep hygiene” should not substitute for appropriate testing when symptoms suggest an underlying sleep or breathing disorder.The future of sleep medicine requires medicine and dentistry to work together. Neither profession needs to do everything. Sleep specialists can diagnose disease and prescribe treatment while dentists can screen, recognize oral and craniofacial risk factors, evaluate dental candidacy and provide appropriate oral appliance therapy. Breaking down the silos between the professions could allow far more patients to be identified and treated. The overarching message:We don't have to solve everything at once. Start by screening. It's the least we can do—and it could change the trajectory of someone's life.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

Season Six of the ASAP Pathway Podcast starts with the three ASAP Pathway co-founders together at the table: Drs. Stacy, Tracey, and Michelle—and this one gets personal. What actually happens to women’s sleep when hormones begin changing? Why does obstructive sleep apnea become much more prevalent in women around midlife? Why can women feel exhausted, foggy, anxious, achy, restless and simply say, “I don’t feel like myself anymore”—yet still have a sleep study that doesn’t look particularly alarming? And what do estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, jaw pain, clenching, TMD, airway anatomy and even heart health have to do with one another? The founders dive into the changing conversation around perimenopause and menopause, including why traditional sleep apnea screening may fail to identify many women. They discuss the limitations of relying only on oxygen desaturations and AHI, and explain RERAs—respiratory effort-related arousals—events that may repeatedly fragment sleep without necessarily meeting the traditional definition of apnea.The conversation also looks forward: new ASAP Pathway education, expanded MARPE training, restorative and clear-aligner planning, mentorship, Immersion, community support and where the founders see the education evolving next. It’s funny, candid, occasionally vulnerable and full of the kind of conversation that happens when three friends, clinicians and founders start connecting the dots.Because sometimes the symptom isn’t the diagnosis—and sometimes “I just don’t feel right” deserves a much deeper look.Dr Tracey Nguyen IGDr Michelle Weddle IGDr Stacy Becker IGCHAPTERS: 📚00:00 Season 6 Begins With the ASAP Founders01:39 Women, Sleep & the Midlife Health Shift03:38 Why Sleep Apnea Changes for Women After 4005:09 Hormones, Menopause & Women’s Health07:54 Are Women Being Treated for Symptoms Instead of Causes?09:15 Dr. Stacy Shares Her Personal Heart Health Journey12:41 Why We Have to Read Research Differently14:38 Hormone Replacement Therapy & the Changing Conversation16:31 Progesterone, Cortisol & Sleep17:04 Why Traditional Sleep Apnea Testing Can Miss Women20:41 What Are RERAs?23:51 Perimenopause, TMD & Poor Sleep24:39 Estrogen, Joint Pain & the TMJ25:40 When Anatomy Becomes a Bigger Risk Factor28:32 What Does a Constricted Bite Look Like?31:20 The TMD “Discovery Phase”32:05 Weaners vs. Phase Two TMD Treatment33:53 Proper Oral Rest Posture & Clenching37:45 Why Sleep and Function Still Matter40:32 Why Hormones Belong in Airway Screening42:17 What’s Coming Next From ASAP Pathway43:19 Expanded MARPE Hands-On Training45:50 Planning the Final Result Before You Start47:45 How ASAP Pathway Education Is Evolving49:17 What Is ASAP Immersion?53:01 Three Random Questions With the Founders1:02:08 Closing ThoughtsLEARNINGS: 🎓Women may experience sleep-disordered breathing differently than men. Traditional screening tools and scoring systems often emphasize characteristics more commonly associated with male obstructive sleep apnea, including oxygen desaturation and certain demographic risk factors. The founders discuss why that can leave symptomatic women unidentified.Hormonal changes may help explain why sleep problems increase around midlife. The episode discusses the dramatic hormonal transition occurring during the perimenopausal and menopausal years and how those changes may affect sleep, airway stability, mood, pain and overall health.A normal-looking AHI does not necessarily mean someone is sleeping well. Women may experience repeated breathing-related arousals without dramatic oxygen drops. Looking only at the apnea-hypopnea index can miss important sleep fragmentation.RERAs matter. A respiratory effort-related arousal is a breathing-related event that causes the brain to arouse from sleep without necessarily meeting the traditional criteria for apnea or hypopnea. Repeated arousals can severely affect sleep quality even when oxygen levels appear relatively stable.TMD and sleep should often be evaluated together. When a woman presents with jaw pain, clenching, grinding or TMD—particularly during a period of hormonal change—the founders encourage clinicians to ask about sleep rather than treating the jaw as an isolated problem.Hormonal transitions can change how much compensation the body can tolerate. A bite or airway anatomy that caused few noticeable problems earlier in life may become more symptomatic as hormonal protection changes. The anatomy may not suddenly be different—the body's ability to compensate for it may be.Tooth wear can provide clues that the bite and function deserve closer evaluation. Progressive wear of the front teeth, chipping, heavy tooth contact or patients naturally moving their lower jaw forward because it “feels better” may provide clues that their current bite deserves further investigation.A TMD appliance can be part of the diagnosis—not just the treatment. Drs. Tracy and Michelle describe using an appliance as a discovery phase: decompressing the joint, reducing symptoms and finding where the patient functions comfortably before deciding whether orthodontic or restorative changes are actually necessary.Function may ultimately determine whether treatment remains stable. Anatomy matters, but so do nasal breathing, posture, oral rest posture and daytime clenching habits. Proper oral rest posture discussed in the episode includes lips together, tongue at the roof of the mouth, teeth slightly apart, nasal breathing and a relaxed posture.Healthcare increasingly requires the patient to become an informed advocate. One of the strongest themes throughout this founders’ conversation is that symptoms should not simply be dismissed because someone doesn't fit the traditional picture of disease. Ask questions. Look deeper. Understand your hormones, sleep, cardiovascular health and other risk factors—and find clinicians willing to connect the pieces.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗